Extreme Heat Strikes US: 14 States Call for Federal Disaster Status

As intense heat keeps scorching the US, various attorneys general are asking the government to step in and save Americans who are “suffering and dying from extreme heat.”

Remember Last Year? 

Technically speaking, summer 2023 marked the highest global temperatures on record and was among the hottest for numerous states.

But so far, this year has seen more severe heat strokes, baking up nearly all the Lower 48 states this summer. 

And the two areas where the heat is doing its worst are the East Coast states and the West.

It’s Worse Now 

For example, Las Vegas is currently in its warmest summer on record, beating the entire country.

But don’t overlook Washington DC, where a new high-temperature record was just smashed – or melted – this Tuesday with a boiling 104 F. 

The Warm West 

The West Coast in particular is boiling over, as the top 3 cities with the highest average temperatures this summer are: 

• Las Vegas, Nevada: average 96.5 F (7.3 F higher than usual)
• Redding, California: average 86.1 F (7.2 F higher than usual)
• Blue Canyon, California: average 71.4 F (7.1 F higher than usual)

Analyzing the Heat 

The average daily temperatures are calculated by taking each day’s average high and low readings – and since June 1st, those have increased several degrees above normal for hundreds of US cities. 

This offers a more comprehensive way of indicating how hot it really is, as both hotter days and warmer nights are factored in. 

The Warm East 

On the other side of the country, numerous cities spanning from New England to the Mid-Atlantic region are currently facing the warmest start to the summer season ever documented. Here, the top 3 cities experiencing the highest average summer temperatures are:

• Hartford, Connecticut: average 75.9 F (5.4 F higher than usual)
• New Haven, Connecticut: average 74.8 F (5.2 F higher than usual)
• Syracuse, New York: average 73.6 F (5.2 F higher than usual) 

Too-Hot Summer Nights 

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), since records started in the late 1800s, the US’ summer nights have been warming up nearly twice as quickly as summer days.

No Time to Chill

These hotter nights elevate the threat of heat by intensifying heat stress as the body has less time to naturally cool down.

The Heat is Moving 

And things aren’t looking better for the weekend ahead. 

As per AccuWeather meteorologists, excessive heat is set to hit the Northwest while heatwaves continue to scorch much of the interior West into the second half of July. 

Still Hot 

As stated by AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Houk, a high-pressure system and a northward bend in the jet stream will control the weather conditions across the western US throughout the weekend. 

Weather Warnings 

“But as disturbances attempt to slice northward on the back side of the high-pressure area, along the Pacific coast, temperatures will surge to high levels on some days before being knocked down briefly,” Houk said.  

A Sweltering Weekend 

While Pendleton, Oregon’s highs will get close to 104 F on Saturday and Sunday, Spokane in Washington might break its record of 103 F, set in 1905, by soaring to 108 this Sunday.  

Boiling in Boise? 

Moving east, Boise, Idaho, could reach at least 100 F every day until Thursday of next week. 

And as the temperatures build up into the start of next week, heat of possibly 110 F could be felt for more than one day until Monday. 

Records to Break? 

Other interior Northwest cities which may also smash heat records include Pocatello, Idaho; and Helena, Montana. 

This Can’t Continue 

Due to millions in the south and northeast battling exceedingly high temperatures and ongoing wildfires in the western US and Canada, 14 state attorneys general are imploring the federal government to declare both extreme heat and wildfire smoke as major disasters. 

States Stating the Facts 

Arizona Attorney General, Kris Mayes, submitted a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Tuesday. 

The letter was also approved by the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington DC.   

Help Is Needed

“The likelihood of high-severity extreme heat and wildfire smoke events is increasing due in part to climate change,” Mayes stated in the letter. “We urge FEMA to update its regulations to prepare for this hotter, smokier future.”

Will It Happen? 

However, FEMA currently doesn’t recognize extreme heat and wildfire smoke as major disasters. 

In June, a union of environmental-, labor-, and health organizations requested that the federal agency acknowledge their petition for recognition under the Stafford Act, which is liable for managing disaster relief. 

Bad Reviews 

“Across the country, people are suffering and dying from extreme heat,” said Jean Su, Energy Justice Director and Senior Attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity.

“FEMA can bring a mass mobilization of resources to deploy life-saving cooling centers, air conditioning and community solar. But so far FEMA’s only shown these communities piecemeal efforts and lackluster leadership.”  

A Real Problem 

Last year, heat exposure killed 2,300 people, with 874 of those deaths happening in Arizona. 

In fact, more weather-related deaths in the US per year are attributed to extreme heat than the combined total of hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes. 

Deteriorating Health  

Additionally, exposure to wildfire smoke, even on a small scale, can exacerbate health conditions like asthma, as well as heart- and lung disease. 

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Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Travis J. Camp.